The
Hope College Milestone of 1930 - Alumni Number. Published by the Junior
Class of Hope College Holland Michigan, copyright 1930 Willard Wichers
Editor-in-Chief and Chester Meengs Business Manager. At 456 pages, this
is more than just a college yearbook. To be sure, it has the usual
sections devoted to Activities, Athletics, Administrators and Professors
(this copy was first owned by Prof. Garret Van Zyl; see bottom right of
front cover photo), student photos with short bios, etc. What makes this
yearbook extraordinary - what makes it the Alumni Number - are pages
272-393: The Alumni Section. Here you will find the names and, in all
years up to 1921, the photos of every Hope College Graduate 1866-1929,
along with reminiscences/stories from at least one member of each graduating
class from 1880-1930 and also from 1867, 1873, 1875, 1877 and 1878. The
tribute to the class on 1867 begins thus: "The First Class of Hope College
are all gone, and I (Gerrit Bolks) am the only one left of the Second Class.
I am eighty-eight years old; and between me of this second class, '67, and the
tenth class, '75, but one Alumnus remains - the Rev. J. Meulendyk,
'73." He goes on to describe how President Phelps and his students
built Hope's first gymnasium by felling local trees, floating them to a nearby
mill, then assembling the sawn lumber into a gymnasium that
"...lasted for many years". The book is in good condition: interior
is excellent with no damage, discoloration or writing found, with two
exceptions: 2nd free endpaper is lightly spotted, and title page has a tear at
bottom left. Corners and edges of boards are lightly worn; front cover
starting to separate from bottom of spine; binding is noticeably split between
pages 264-265 - not in danger of coming apart but handle with care - it's a
heavy book. This extraordinary book needs a good home. Free
delivery to any location within 60 miles of downtown Grand Rapids Michigan.